This design concept minimizes immediate carbon emissions through material efficiency, integrated natural insulation, self-shading, and a monocoque geometric shell, creating a holistic, adaptable, and circular facade system that enhances overall building performance and sustainability.
Organization
WilkinsonEyre Architects, Arup, Scheldebouw
Project information
Our design recognises that climate change is more negatively impacted by carbon produced in the immediate future; than that produced over the proceeding years. As a result, our team have prioritised reducing carbon emissions now as our primary conceptual driver.
We believe that the façade of the future should be one that makes a holistic contribution to the built environment and building system. As a result, we have developed our concept as a positive addition to the building’s structural and performative systems. Current façade systems are burdened with an inherent material and performative redundancy; the climate crisis is calling on us all to do more with less, where each element of the façade needs to work harder as part of the whole system to respond to the challenge.
Our design embraces the power of geometry to reduce upfront embodied carbon through material efficiency, and reduce operational energy demands through integrating insulation with natural materials, optimised glazing ratio, and self-shading. The concept is adapted into a series of variations to provide a ‘kit-of-parts’ approach to suit a range of applications.
A monocoque shell formed of a catenary shell surface that provides stiffness thereby reducing reliance on extruded sections and duplicate framing. A single holistic geometry is optimised to its location and orientation to reduce operational loads and improve quality and comfort for occupants.
Our Proposal sets out to improve the whole building, rather than just the envelope; Minimising carbon in the superstructure; and operational loads through parametric optimisation. Moreover, it considers daylight performance, options for natural ventilation, greening, and photovoltaic panels.
The design embraces circularity, prioritising minimal use of carbon in construction, while allowing the design to be adaptable, resilient, reusable, and its elements ultimately recyclable or biodegradable.